- Tsuba - Ko-Akasaka - Yatsuhashi, Musashino, Chrysanthenum

This tsuba is a refined example of the early Akasaka school and displays the characteristic qualities associated with the workshop, especially with works in the tradition of the second master, Tadamasa. It has an almost round, slightly oval outline and is forged from dense, darkly patinated iron whose surface shows the depth, subtle texture, and calm presence that define the Ko-Akasaka period. The thickness of the rim and the strength of the plate feel well balanced, while the total weight of about 93 grams reflects the harmonious relationship between the substantial iron and the large openwork.

The sukashi design is broad and confidently executed, fully in the spirit of early Akasaka aesthetics, which favor wide openings, flowing rhythm, and a well-judged interplay between positive and negative space. The pierced elements relate to one another organically, without angularity or stiffness, following a lively, almost calligraphic sense of movement that is typical of the Ko-Akasaka style.

The depicted motif combines several classical themes. The prominent diagonal element at the top suggests the Yatsuhashi motif, the “Eight Bridges” from the Ise Monogatari, often abstracted and reduced to essential forms in Akasaka work. The soft, curved lines and leaflike shapes in the lower part evoke the grasses of the Musashino plain, a poetic landscape motif that appears frequently in sukashi tsuba. Some of the rounded, lobed shapes can be interpreted as stylized chrysanthemum petals, rendered in the simplified silhouette manner favored by the early Akasaka masters.

Taken as a whole, this tsuba embodies the essential qualities of the early Akasaka tradition: strong, well-forged iron; a lively yet harmonious openwork composition; classical themes from nature and literature; and an overall sense of calm refinement that reflects knowledgeable craftsmanship. The combination of Yatsuhashi, Musashino grasses, and chrysanthemum creates a subtly autumnal, poetic scene that fits seamlessly into the aesthetic associated with the Tadamasa lineage.

Dimension 76 mm x 78,3 mm x 5,5 mm (5,5 mm) 93,0 g